Radio WM – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pope’s Visit Accreditation

This is the Media accreditation for Radio WM engineer, Rod Fawcett, to cover the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Midlands in 1982.

Radio OB in Victoria Square

Photo from Rod Fawcett, no reproduction without permission

The photo shows Radio WM Engineer, Rod Fawcett, with Chris Nelson and Tom Horsfield, adjusting the mast, on an outside broadcast in Birmingham’s Victoria Square. The radio car is a Montego. There was obviously some Victorian theme, hence the costumes.

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Andy Walters: ‘Those masts were awful. Looks like Tom is having a little difficulty there. Every so often a Journalist would drive under a low bridge and whack the antenna off the top of the stowed mast. The car that succeeded the one in the picture, a Peugeot 405 now resides in Coventry Motor Museum.’

Malcolm Stent and his band

Photo from Rod Fawcett, no reproduction without permission

Radio WM presenter, Malcolm Stent (left), and his band, ‘The Poor Boys’, with Radio WM engineer, Rod Fawcett, on the right.

Thanks to Rod Fawcett, for sharing the photo.

Rod Fawcett added the following information, ‘This was at the Old Silhillians Rugby Club. Malc and his band often performed there and on this occasion the evening was recorded for Radio WM.’

John Taynton and Muhammad Ali

Radio WM presenter, John Taynton, with Muhammad Ali. The date will be around 1983-4, which was when John was still presenting with BRMB, before his move to Radio WM. BRMB Programme Controller, Bob Hopton is stood next to John.

Thanks to John’s son, Phil Taynton, for sharing the photo.

The following comment were added to the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

John Evans: ‘WM’s interview with Ali was done by the late Ed Doolan with me (as sports editor) alongside Ed in the studio, so I imagine the photo is at BRMB.’

John Taynton mug

Photos from Gregory Hallsworth, no reproduction without permission

Radio WM mug from the early 1990s, featuring presenter John Taynton.

Thanks to Gregory Hallsworth for taking and sharing the photos.

The following comments were posted on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Andy Walters: ‘This particular show was shared with the four other stations in the West Midlands region. Shropshire, Stoke, Hereford & Worcester and Coventry & Warwickshire but came from WM.’

Gregory Hallsworth: ‘The show was also taken by the four East Midlands stations as well (Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln) so quite a wide coverage area!’

Jon Pountney: ‘He was a great broadcaster, I can hear his voice now.’